Manitoba Harvest Pace Quickens

After a slow start, the Manitoba harvest accelerated this past week. 

Wednesday’s provincial crop report estimated the overall Manitoba harvest at 29% complete as of Monday, up from just 10% a week earlier. 

The largest strides were made in the Eastern Region, where the harvest advanced a major 32 points on the week to 38% complete. At 31% done as of Monday, the harvest in the Northwest gained 27 points on the week, while the Central Region harvested climbed 24 points to 40%. The Interlake harvest was 26% complete, up from 11% the previous week, and the Southwest was 20% done versus 9% a week earlier. 

Isolated rainfall and storm events brought anywhere from 0 to 60 mm of precipitation across the province. Kane recorded the highest accumulation at 60.3 mm, while many other areas received only light showers. Soil moisture remains variable, with the Interlake still seeing large stretches of dry to very dry fields. 

Harvest of winter cereals is nearly complete, with winter wheat yields ranging between 50 and 80 bu/acre and fall rye at 60 to 110 bu/acre. Spring wheat is averaging 50 to 60+ bu/acre, oats 100 to 150 bu/acre, and barley 60 to 70 bu/acre. Canola yields are reported between 45 and 60 bu/acre, while flax is advancing into the brown capsule stage. Sunflowers have mostly completed flowering, and field peas are averaging around 60 bu/acre. Soybeans and dry beans remain in later growth stages. 

Regionally, conditions are mixed. In the Southwest, most fall cereals are off with solid quality, though heavy rainfall in some areas has raised concerns about swathed crop quality. Spring wheat yields there range from 40 to 80 bu/acre, averaging closer to 50–60. In the Northwest, warm conditions allowed for strong progress before thunderstorms and hail caused localized damage in Swan Valley, Benito, and Inglis.